Hinds, Hancock, McVey and Lewis: who are May’s new cabinet members?

Four key Tories MPs were promoted in this week’s cabinet reshuffle. Who are they?

This week’s reshuffle was underwhelming to say the least. After speculation about Jeremy Hunt possibly moving from health to business or even to first secretary of state and additional chatter in the newspaper columns, very little has actually changed.

On one hand, strategically she has played it safe, but on the other the much-anticipated reshuffle has made her look weak.

So, who are the four new full members of cabinet? The BBC reports that four new faces are in the cabinet.

Damian Hinds

Hinds is one of the 2010 intake and has served in the government since 2015, first as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury under David Cameron and then as an Employment Minister under May. He represents the safe Tory seat of East Hampshire and studied PPE at the University of Oxford.

Matthew Hancock

The 39-year-old replaces Karen Bradley as Digital, Culture, Media and Sport secretary, having served as a Digital and Culture minister since Theresa May came to power. Hancock has served in numerous government roles since 2013, and like Hinds was also first elected in 2010.

Furthermore, like Hinds, he also studied PPE at Oxford.

Ester McVey

McVey was first elected in 2010, but lost her seat to Labour in 2015. Two years later, the snap election provided McVey with an opportunity to re-enter parliament - this time in George Osborne’s former seat in Tatton.

McVey now serves as the country’s Work and Pensions secretary. Having only been in parliament for fewer than six years in total, McVey’s rise has been staggering to say the least.

After June’s disastrous election for the Conservatives, the party will be hoping that Lewis can help shape the party’s electoral direction in the coming years. The next opportunity is this May’s council elections. Can Lewis deliver?

Richard Wood

Richard Wood is a Masters student in Political Research at the University of Aberdeen and is Head of Media for campaign-group TalkPolitics. Other than politics, he is passionate about travel, running, and writing, as well as all things space-related.